What to do after your home suffers flood damage

What steps should you take after your home has been damaged in a flood?

First, assess the situation for safety and avoid moving water. Keep an eye out for poking wires. Continue listening to local warnings and updates. If you left your home because of major flood damage, make sure not to go back too soon.

“People put themselves in danger and could create extra work for the responders who have their hands full responding to the event,” said Jerry DeFelice with FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

Beware of hazards

Check for structural damage before reentering your house.

Throw away any food that came in contact with floodwaters.

Boil water before drinking until authorities declare water safe to drink

Take photos

Take photos of damage around your house and property. An insurer will need this evidence to prepare a repair estimate.

Be sure to take photos of damaged walls before removing baseboard.

File a flood insurance claim

Call an insurance agent to file a flood claim. Have the following information ready: the name of your insurance company, policy number and a telephone number where you can be reached.

List damaged or lost items. If possible, include the items’ age and value. If an official requires you to dispose of a certain damaged item, try to keep a sample of the item for the adjuster.

Keep receipts for cleaning or repair services.

If you don’t have insurance:

Homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover floods. However, DeFelice said flood victims should still call their homeowner’s insurance agent. They might be able to give advice for next steps.

Clean up

Turn off electricity before cleaning around appliances or entering a flooded basement. Even if your community’s power is out, shut your power off.

Remove wet contents. Items that hold moisture, such as carpet, furniture or bedding, can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours.

Clean with a phenolic or pine-oil cleaner and disinfect with a 10 percent bleach solution, or one and a half cups of bleach per gallon of water. If mold still develops on an item, throw it away.

Dry out the building with a portable dehumidifier. If you need to rent one, it might be covered under flood policy. Check with your provider. An air conditioner could also be used.

Dry out damaged walls: After taking photos, knock small holes in the drywall at floor level between wall studs to help moisture seep out from behind the drywall.

Stay healthy

Get enough rest and try to eat healthy. Drink plenty of clean water. Don’t drink local water if authorities haven’t deemed it clean.

National disasters can also cause emotional stress and trauma. DeFice said if people aren’t coping well with losing their home or belongings, call a local mental health center or American Red Cross.

Ask for help

The American Red Cross offers health services for natural disaster victims, such as connecting them with a mental health professional.

“The recovery process of disasters is an important piece. Some people think ‘oh, it’s over,’ but that’s where things are just getting started for these people. It takes months for people to put their lives back together,” said Brian Shawn, American Red Cross communications officer for North and South Dakota.

The American Red Cross connects victims to certified volunteer clinical psychologist and mental health professionals after the response phase of the disaster. Shawn said people sometimes think they can face this new phase in their life on their own, but they shouldn’t be ashamed of talking to someone.

“After you’re there and you’re tired and you don’t know what the next step is and you don’t know how to lead your family through something like this, I think people eventually realize they do need help and that it’s okay to talk to someone,” Shawn said. “It’s not a five day fix.”